The police have arraigned an 83-year-old man, Idowu Olowo, before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun, over alleged land grabbing.

The defendant whose address was not provided, is facing charges bordering on land grabbing, forcible entry, threat to life and stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Kehinde Ojugbele, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometimes in 2025 about 11.00a.m at Kajola, Onikanga village, Ifetedo.

He added that the defendant forcibly entered into a land belonging to Ajetunmobi Adeniyi and threatened his life for the purpose of land grabbing.

According to him, the defendant sometimes in February 2025 at about 11.00a.m at Kajola, Onikanga village in Ifetedo, stole the farm produce including Cocoa fruits, kolanut fruits and palm kernel valued at N5 million, property of Adeniyi.

The prosecutor stated that the offences contravened Sections 81, 86 and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2002.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The defendant’s counsel, Mrs Sidikat Salawu, applied for the bail on liberal terms, pledging that he would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mrs Abosede Sarumi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Sarumi added the sureties must swear to affidavit of means, reside within the court jurisdiction, produce three years tax certificate and recent passport photographs.

She ordered that the defendant be remanded at Area Commander Police Station pending the perfection of his bail.

The court adjourned the case until March 2, for further mention.

(NAN)

Officials in the Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State have sealed over 200 shops at the Bridge Head Market for failing to comply with the state’s directive to ignore the Monday “sit-at-home” order.

The affected shops, located across six market lines, were found under lock and key during a compliance monitoring exercise by the LG authorities on Monday.

It was gathered that there were no commercial activities in the area when the LG monitoring visited, as the traders reportedly refused to open their shops for business despite government directives mandating the resumption of normal trading activities.

The enforcement exercise was led by the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, and the Secretary of the Council, Paul Onuachalla.

During the operation, entrances to the affected market lines were sealed by the LG monitoring team, and new padlocks were secured to prevent access to the closed shops.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Orji described the traders’ actions as unfortunate and counterproductive, particularly at a time when the state government is working to restore normal commercial activities across Anambra State.

According to him, there are strong indications that the allocations of the affected shops may be revoked and reassigned to other traders, pending the outcome of a full investigation by the authorities.

“He said, “It is sad and unfortunate that while the state government is making concerted efforts to revive economic activities in Anambra State on Mondays, some individuals are bent on sabotaging those efforts.

“Other markets and shops in Onitsha were open for business, but traders at the Bridge Head Market chose to shut down their operations.

“This amounts to economic sabotage against the state, and we will no longer tolerate such actions. The affected shops will remain sealed until next Monday. If the traders fail to comply by reopening for business on that day, the closure will be extended indefinitely.”

Also addressing journalists, the Secretary of the Council, Onuachalla, stated that the traders’ actions could constitute serious offences, including economic sabotage and related crimes under the law.

Onuachalla further disclosed that the shop allocations of the affected traders may be revoked in line with existing laws.

“This action amounts to economic sabotage against Anambra State and could be interpreted as aiding and abetting unlawful activities. As a council, we cannot treat such matters with kid gloves.

“We expected the traders to learn from the earlier closure of the Onitsha Main Market. However, they apparently believed they could disregard the government’s directive without consequences. They must now face the full weight of the law, and there will be no compromise.

“As we speak, the allocations of those shops are under review. Under the law, the government retains overriding authority over public property, and such allocations can be revoked in the public interest,” he added.

Reports have surfaced via activist Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters alleging that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the removal of IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

Sowore claimed that Egbetokun had been replaced by a senior officer currently serving at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, in Lagos.

While these reports claim the development is “confirmed” by internal sources, both the Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force have yet to issue an official public statement.

He, however, did not provide official confirmation to back the claim.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no statement from the Presidency or the Nigeria Police Force confirming the development.

Efforts to get a confirmation from Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were not successful. Hundeyin did not answer calls placed to his phone.

He subsequently sent a message asking that a text message be forwarded to him, assuring that he would respond.

However, as at press time, he had yet to reply.

Sowore has repeatedly questioned Egbetokun’s tenure, arguing that the police chief ought to have exited office upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting Inspector-General of Police in October 2023, pending confirmation by the National Assembly.

The appointment took effect on October 31, 2023.

Following controversy over the IGP’s tenure, the Federal Government sponsored an amendment to the Police Act providing for a single four-year term for an Inspector-General of Police, irrespective of age or years of service.

The provision allows Egbetokun to remain in office until October 2027.